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Turn Signal Warning

Was out in the cage, at a traffic light, waiting for a safe time to make a right turn on a red signal. Gas station on the right, at the corner, with the usual entrance just on a bit.

I saw a slow moving car coming to the intersection, from the left, turn signal on, slowing, sure looked like it was going to turn at the intersection. I pulled out and made my turn, but checked the mirror and saw the car cross the intersection and turn into the service station, just behind me.

Could have been a problem, if the car had been going faster.

Many folks signal too early and it can lead to trouble. I believe the oncoming car should have not signaled until in the intersection to avoid giving a misleading message.

There are laws (spelled out in your state's DMV Drivers' Handbook) that specify how far before a turn one should signal; but logic "should" preempt that...
I usually wait for them to PROVE it before I go...

There are laws (spelled out in your state's DMV Drivers' Handbook) that specify how far before a turn one should signal; but logic "should" preempt that...
I usually wait for them to PROVE it before I go...

State law regarding when to signal a turn - 300 feet or 200 feet in most states - work reasonably well on country roads. But as noted in the original post, they can fail miserably in an urban environment with 300 foot (or so) blocks and driveways between intersections.

Wait to make sure is a good rule.

Paul Glaves - "Big Bend", Texas U.S.A
"The greatest challenge to any thinker is stating the problem in a way that will allow a solution." - Bertrand Russellhttp://web.bigbend.net/~glaves/

Hmmm...I was just discussing this very thing with my son last night as we drove around town, (he's a 'permit' learner right now). I told him signaling too early can be just as bad as not signaling at all. He understood the concept. Also, it was an excellent time to tell him about not trusting a person's turn signals. We have all left them on by accident at least once!

Was out in the cage, at a traffic light, waiting for a safe time to make a right turn on a red signal. Gas station on the right, at the corner, with the usual entrance just on a bit.

I saw a slow moving car coming to the intersection, from the left, turn signal on, slowing, sure looked like it was going to turn at the intersection. I pulled out and made my turn, but checked the mirror and saw the car cross the intersection and turn into the service station, just behind me.

Could have been a problem, if the car had been going faster.

Many folks signal too early and it can lead to trouble. I believe the oncoming car should have not signaled until in the intersection to avoid giving a misleading message.

Then there is the time you are sitting there waiting to make a left but there is a cage coming. You wait, and then all of a sudden, they put on their turn signal to turn right, when you could have made 3 turns waiting for them!
Ken

IBA #44567 Pres. Springfield BMW Roadriders
"Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I'm not sure about the the universe."
-Albert Eienstein

Other vehicles turn signals are (usually) a signal of their intention, but we need to look at the possibilities (gas station or next street) and assume the worst.

Don't know about you, but I've had to work on my own use of turn signals. Too often I've caught myself putting on the turn signal for a lane change as I was making it! Stupid! Signal for a couple seconds and make sure there isn't a vehicle about to occupy that space before you make the move.

Maybe it is where I live, but most motorists will give a person a brake (both spellings) when they signal for the lane change they should have made a half mile back. When I am the fool, I always acknowledge the courtesy if possible, and do my best to help others who find themselves in the wrong lane.

I suspect that "road courtesy" is every bit as contagious as "road rage."

Other vehicles turn signals are (usually) a signal of their intention, but we need to look at the possibilities (gas station or next street) and assume the worst.

Don't know about you, but I've had to work on my own use of turn signals. Too often I've caught myself putting on the turn signal for a lane change as I was making it! Stupid! Signal for a couple seconds and make sure there isn't a vehicle about to occupy that space before you make the move.

Maybe it is where I live, but most motorists will give a person a brake (both spellings) when they signal for the lane change they should have made a half mile back. When I am the fool, I always acknowledge the courtesy if possible, and do my best to help others who find themselves in the wrong lane.

I suspect that "road courtesy" is every bit as contagious as "road rage."

Two things about this thread:

First, good for you for acknowledging your own shortcomings, mistakes, whatever you want to call it. We all make mistakes and we should be both aware of them, and humble about it. Courtesy goes a LONG way in any situation. The world is lacking in courtesy now-a-days, so let's all SHOW folks what courtesy is, how it works, what it looks like. One thing about us humans is we ALL want to feel good about ourselves- when someone pays us a courtesy- no matter how small or seemingly insignificant- it does wonders for one's day. Pay it forward!

Secondly, Obviously the OP has the best of intentions here- I see this as his having made an assumption about what the signaling driver was going to do. Could have been ugly. Good for you for recognizing the assumption and the dangers of such. Thanks for passing this on to us. It sure never hurts to talk about stuff! Dialogue helps keep us aware of our own tendency to overlook what is sometimes so obvious in hindsight- letting us remember AGAIN that we need to see things as they happen.

As the number of roundabouts increase in and around Green Bay, I notice that a very high percentage of drivers use no signal getting onto or off the "ring". I must be one of the rare few that use a signal when exiting the ring. My bet is that as moer drivers get accustomed to roundabouts we'll have even more drivers making fewer signals.

But most drivers no longer bother with a signal - no enforcement for that is occuring, due to shortage of squads for traffic assignments here - they know that.

Seems to use a signal, one must put the phone down...priorities ya know
My unoficial survey of who does/does not signal has a phone involved a LOT of the time with the latter...as mentioned ...use caution, especialy in the multi driveway urban environment!

Steve Henson
SABMWRA MOA Club#62's Flat Fixer/ current forum moderator
It's not the breaths you take, but the moments that take your breath away-D.Dillon/G. Strait

The New York State law says you must signal continuously for 100 feet before the turn. Sometimes this will mean signaling and then passing a road or driveway before your turn. I now look at the turn signal as signaling only that a turn is planned, NOT WHERE it is going to be done. To know where, I have to watch the vehicle and especially the brake lights.
The real indisputable value of turn signals is that they say "look at me." They get your attention so that you will read their actions.
For myself, I very often coordinate turning on the signal with a road sign, such as an exit sign or a route turning arrow, to link the two within people's minds.